The Wood County Fraternal Order of Police hosted its annual Cops and Kids Shopping Event Saturday at the
Rossford Meijer store.
The event again paired more than 100 children with a police officer, giving them $100 to spend on
clothing and toys.
Dan Van Vorhis, president of the Wood County Fraternal Order of Police #109, indicated in a statement
that the event is more than just shopping: it is about building positive relationships between children
and police.
On a daily basis, he said, police officers respond to numerous calls throughout Northwest Ohio, and, as a
result, are in homes where they can see firsthand that a particular family could benefit from a helping
hand.
The majority of financial support for the event comes from donations from the community, local businesses
and organizations, with police officers from each jurisdiction in Wood County participating.
During the event, the officers are paired up with a child from their jurisdiction and given a cart, a
gift card, and sent on their way in the store.
After picking out a coat, the rest of the money can be spent on toys.
